The President of the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce says local business owners are concerned about a rash of violence in the city so far this year. Verlynn Best tells KIT News. "We've had a very concentrated amount of these homicides and people are very concerned in the community. And they want to know what they can do differently to stop this."
Best says the chamber works with local business owners who are concerned not only about a string of recent murders, 9 so far this year but also about a rash of small store robberies reported since the beginning of April many of which police believe are connected. Best says however the recent violence isn't driving business away from Yakima. In fact a number of new businesses are opening in Yakima this year including a new steakhouse in downtown Yakima.

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